Saving My Sanity!
I never worry when the regular season ends because we have good winter fishing locally. That said, last winter was hard work, so I hoped for better fishing this winter. The winter season usually kicks off with a bang as some big rainbows move up river in May. This year saw very few fish move in May. Also, feck all in June and now were well into July and still no great action. Every day out I find some fish, but not the big thumpers I need to scratch this itch. I want a big silver bar – fresh out of the lake, or just a plain big bow. For the 5 or so winters before last winter I always got them. Plenty of them. But not this year or last. Last year I had the excuse that I was busy with 2 very young kids, but this year I have fished it a lot. I have guided it and fished it hard. Lots of days, but I simply have not had that great day. I think the fish are there in very low numbers. Maybe the run is still to come! I certainly hope so. Lately I’ve actually gotten fed up going out to fish it. At the end of each fishing day, I return saying “right, thats it, not going back”… but the next time I have a window, I’m back out there, frustrating myself once again – sometimes not enjoying it. I move quickly to cover multiple spots which have always held fish. I also look in new water, blind fish, sight fish. Really work it hard but nothing decent to report apart from some dark 2 to 4lb bows or 1lb maidens but thats simply not what I want. I’m not greedy either – If I could catch one fresh run 6lb plus rainbow I’d be happy. That would make my winter. One day out – one of the few days with decent action – I hooked 8 only landing 2 rat bows. One fish I lost that day was one of those special fish, but I only caught a glimpse.
I had to get well away from the local in search of some good fishing. I went to fish some lakes I like to fish in winter. It felt like I hadn’t caught a decent trout for ages and I couldn’t take it anymore! The day on the lake saved my sanity. I worked a rocky shore hard all day with dries, nymphs and streamers – sight and blind and landed 7 trout to 7lbs. Lots of reel screaming runs from super trout.. I feel like an angler again.
Feel free to get in touch about guided fly fishing over winter or next season. Check out my website or email me @ ronan@sexyloops.com.
Links to some of the flies mentioned in the pics.. Complex twist bugger , Claret nymph , Indicator Klink.
Tight Lines, Ronan..
Alex. New to casting / fly
fishing but a very fast learner.
We carefully worked all our water. 
Anemone Stinkhorn. Crazy looking things! 
Fish were hard to find but we had a few chances. 
Finally.. A very difficult fish to catch,
so all the better!
Fighting fit. My claret nymph under a dry did the trick. 
Fishing with Matt.
The fog clung to the river all day..
Cold.. 
..but beautiful. 
Lunch! Tea is great to warm us up. 
A great fish for Matt.
Best winter bow of the season so far.
And another smaller fish. 
The sun tried to break through! 
Working the braids. 
Mist! 
Fishing some new water with Chris. 
Fishing was bad but great company! 
Great place but man, this has been a hard winter. 
I had to get away from home to find some good fishing! 
The first from a great day.
This on my possum / marabou streamer – The Bruiser
Finally, a fish to really pull line.. 
..and another. This one on my Claret Nymph 18″ under a dry. 
Dry July! One on a Fulling Mill indicator klink
in the middle of winter.
Working the edges.. 
One on a Fulling Mill Complex Twist Bugger.
These are great..
..and another on the same fly. Best of the day at 7lbs. 
After a hard winter so far, I really
needed that day.. Just brilliant.